'03 Altos Las Hormigas, Malbec, Mendoza ($8.99 Chambers Street). Alcohol level 13.9%. Rich and dark color to eye, but still not as inky as a Cahors; no problem. Gives you lots of fruit like blue plums and meaty/bacony notes on the nose and upfront. The very rich fruit held off the oaky notes across the palate along with remarkably complex structure. The finish lingered.

The effectiveness of this wine, and we have another one, could have been enhanced by the fact that we drank it with cheeses, cracker, and sliced Pepperoni. But, all went well together. Not bad for nine bucks.